Wet cupping appears to be a living reminiscence of the traditional Finnish healing methods. Fifteen persons practicing or having practiced cupping were interviewed in Savo Province, Eastern Finland. The knowledge and skills of cupping appear to be transferred by personal apprenticeship within a family or from a neighbour. No written material is nowadays available and known to be used in learning. Cupping is considered by healers to be useful in the treatment of aching and pains of teeth, head, neck, shoulders, back and legs. Cuppers report cupping effective also in hypertension and skin diseases. On the other hand, the method is not regarded to be useful in problems of internal organs. Cupping is done after a sauna and bathing of the patient in a warm environment (in sauna). It is often preceded by massage. The small wounds in the cupping sites are made with the aid of a small knife. The healers have the opinion that bad blood must be removed from the superficial areas of the ailing parts of the body, The cupping sites were more or less specific to the ailments of the patient and the number of cups varied from patient to patient depending on the condition and size.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to learn more about the extent of, and factors related to, the use of traditional and complementary healing modalities among Simi psychiatric patients. STUDY DESIGN: A quantitative survey among psychiatric patients in Finnmark and Nord-Troms, Norway. RESULTS: A total of 186 S?mi and Norwegian patients responded to the survey, a response rate of 48%. Of these, 43 had a strong S?mi cultural affiliation. Use of traditional and complementary treatment modalities was significantly higher within the S?mi group. Factors related to use differed between S?mi and Norwegian groups. S?mi users were found to give greater importance to religion and spirituality in dealing with illness than S?mi patients who had not used these treatments. They were also found to be less satisfied with central aspects of their psychiatric treatment. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, we found several differences in factors related to the use of traditional and complementary treatments between S?mi and Norwegian psychiatric patient groups. S?mi users were found to give greater importance to religion and spirituality and were less satisfied with the public psychiatric services than S?mi patients who had not used traditional or complementary treatments. The study implies that finding ways to include different aspects of traditional healing within the health services to the S?mi community should be given consideration.

CiraumpoZar Health 84:332-334
ALCOHOLISM AND MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT IN CIRCUMPOLAR AREAS:
TRADITIONAL AND NON-TRADITIONAL APPROACHES
THEODORE A. MALA
Throughout the circumpolar world there
seems to be increasing concern by national
governments and health professionals at the
rising rate

Alaska Medical Library - From: Fortuine, Robert et al. 1993. The Health of the Inuit of North America: A Bibliography from the Earliest Times through 1990. University of Alaska Anchorage. Citation number 265.

UAA/APU Consortium, General Collection RC438.H67.Pages 400-431 in J.G. Howells, ed. World history of psychiatry. Bruner/Mazel, New York.

The Inupiat of northwest Alaska, once dependent upon themselves for staying healthy and treating illness in a harsh environment, today have access to modern healthcare via an innovative hub system. The availability of modern healthcare and other human services has come at a cost, however, in terms of local Native control and the practice of traditional Native lifeways. Nurses and other healthcare providers outside the culture can improve the quality of care they provide by becoming culturally informed and providing culturally congruent care. Caring is assumed to be the central essence and primary activity of nursing. This study explored the life experiences of six Inupiat traditional healers in caring, health, illness, and healing. Ideas about caring are discussed, and ways of implementing these findings in the provision of quality care are suggested.

This article discusses ethno-zootic healing as compared to the more typical ethno-botanicals that are the interest of the pharmaceutical industry. Some of the healing power of the seal is derived from the spirit of the animal and the cultural importance that it provides.

This article discusses the impact of mining on traditional ways of life. It also discusses the ways in which cultural traditions and local languages are affected by the process of modernization, improved access to formal education, and incorporation into the cash economy.

The staff at the Institute for Circumpolar Health Studies are proud to have the opportunity to participate in this important study of Alaska Native traditional healing practices. It is our hope that the material contained in this report, while not a comprehensive review of Alaska Native traditional healing practices and attitudes, will provide a basis for further discussions on the development of a traditional healing program.